12-02-2002, 11:44 PM
Pull the batteries out if you are going to leave the boat out doors. Dont set them on concrete, a wood board works best. You will want to trickle charge them every so often to help them stay good during the off season. This will help preserve battery life. Disconnect the gas line and run the fuel out of the carbuerator, or hook up a cooling system flush and run the gas out. You will want to flush the system anyways. Fogg the engine, this is done usually by spraying fogging oil into the cylindar, this prevents the cylindar from forming rust deposits that will flake off and damage the cylindar. Grease the threads lightly of your spark plugs, this will help to prevent moisture from getting into the cylindar. Change out the oil in the lower unit, clear off any metal filings from the drain plug, check for water mixed in with the oil. Grease all lube points to press out any water that is held up inside grease compartments, dont forget about the trailer. Make sure you have cleared all the water out of live well hoses, bilge, ect. Basically you want to eliminate any presence of water, and moisture while it sits. Remember cold is the enemy to batteries. Keep them warm and charged and they will last you twice as long. if you own an inboard, make sure you drain the block, freeze and crack that and you are screwed.